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This is great fiction. With a strong hook in the prologue, Brouwer draws us into this modern-day mystery. Through a series of flashbacks, we follow Nick Barrett's search for his mother, his ex-wife, his blackmailers...and for secrets he isn't even aware of. Although the tension flags slightly through the middle of the tale, and the dialogue remains clipped, these characters come to life through solid storytelling. As the plot turns tighter, the author parcels out more and more secrets so that the last fifty pages fly by. What I thought would be a solid 4-star book became an enthusiastic 5-star recommendation after reaching the climax of this Southern mystery.
If you've read "Double Helix" and had a lukewarm reaction, let Brouwer prove to you that he's grown as a writer. "Out of the Shadows" is a gripping story, with spiritual and emotional impact. Having only recently moved to Nashville, I've decided that Sigmund Brouwer is one of this areas best-kept Southern secrets.
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I also read his full-length novel THE WEEPING CHAMBER at the same time. Many of the vignettes from this book are included in that book, but both books offer original material, too. If you enjoyed this book, get a copy of the other. It is even more powerful then this one.
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One day, Mrs. McEwan has a special job for Ricky. She wants him to meet her long lost nephew at the train station, but before he leaves, she shows him her valuable antique jewelry collection. In the center of the collection is the jewel of Madagascar - a huge, beautiful, red stone; unlike any Ricky has ever seen.
Mrs. McEwan encourages Ricky to take a closer look. He immediately grabs the stone with both hands instead of using the tongs on the table.
At the look on Mrs. McEwan's face, he places the stone back on the cloth. Mrs. McEwan proceeds to tell him about the curse placed on the stone many years ago.
Whoever touches the stone, their friends will become enemies and their enemies will become friends. Ricky doesn't believe in curses, but he feels funny after touching the stone.
A few minutes later, Joel comes in carrying a baby crow. Not only does Joel have a knack for being unseen, he also has an uncanny ability with animals. Mrs. McEwan's five cats are at Joel's feet, eyeing the bird hungrily.
When Joel hands the bird to Ricky, the cats pounce. Ricky's hands are scratched and he is knocked off balance. The baby crow frantically tries to get airborne. In the struggle, Ricky bumps into the china cabinet, causing a bronze statue to hit the table and smash many of the antique jewels into small bits.
Ricky is devastated at the loss he has caused. Though Mrs. McEwan tells him not to worry, he feels he must pay for the damage, but he has no idea how. On the way to the train station to pick up the long lost nephew, Edward, he sees his pals, Mike and Ralphy. He tells them of his dilemma, and though they'd like to help, they don't have that much money either.
Once Ricky sees Edward, the supposedly long lost nephew, he knows something isn't right. He suspects this person is posing as Mrs. McEwan's nephew and is up to something.
Ricky makes it his mission to find out what Edward is up to. He's convinced that Edward is trying to steal from Mrs. McEwan so he sets out to prove it.
In the meantime, Ricky's friends are acting strangely. Mike and Ralphy seem to be doing things without him and keeping secrets from him. Ricky thinks back to the curse placed on whoever touches the jewel of Madagascar.
Is the curse coming true? Who is Edward and is he trying to steal from Mrs. McEwan? What do worms have to do with any of it?
"The Disappearing Jewel of Madagascar" blends childhood mischief with suspense. This book is a treat for both girls and boys. They learn the value of trust and friendship. The godly lessons subtly woven into the story teach kids about prayer and worry.
This is a reedit and reprint of a book from the original series. Rachel, Ricky's new baby sister, has been added. Several scenes that were humorous character scenes have also been cut. I didn't miss them until I looked back at my first copy, but it's still a shame they've been cut out. One of these cut scenes is referenced later in the book, so hopefully they'll do better editing jobs in the future.
The story itself is still intact and great fun. Rereading it, I was once again drawn into the mystery, even though I remembered the ending. The characters are great fun, and there were still lots of humorous parts.
Anyone looking for a great mystery with well-developed characters and great humor should definitely check this series out. It's a series that everyone will enjoy reading.
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This novella is a quick read. I got through it in a couple hours one evening. But that doesn't make it any less powerful. Sigmund Brouwer has created a cast of characters that need the love of God, and works them through their problems. The ending had me in tears.
Anyone looking for a good story that will move you while making you rethink your own priorities need look no further. This powerful little book is must reading.
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And a comment: This book was written BEFORE the "Winds of Light" series. The WoL don't have all of Magnus in them, either. They're supposed to be children's books, and so Brouwer took the witchy parts out along with some other stuff, and divided it up eight ways. I know, because I owned Magnus before the WoL were published. I talked to Brouwer about it a few years ago, and although we didn't speak of that particularly, he did say that there were parts taken out of the WoL that were in Magnus.
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I was blown away when I read this book. Sigmund Brouwer weaves a fictitious story around the real events of the Bible seamlessly. And his account of the Bible story is eye opening. While fictitious, it made me look at the people involved in a different light. I have a new understanding of what Jesus did for all of us because of it.
I also read Sigmund Brouwer's THE CARPENTER'S CLOTH at the same time. There are some overlapping passages between the two books, but both are well worth a read and include material not in the other.
The story begins with a man who is identified much later as Simon, who is standing in his own perception of what is his own weeping chamber, his own dark burial cave, comtemplating his life and fate. The story ends with the same man standing inside the bright burial chamber of the other man in the story, the Christ. The issues surrounding his own life find resolution through his increasing involvement in the life of the other man. They become linked in a redemptive process, and identify the true weeping chamber to be the soul of man, the house where it is possible for the mind to descend into the heart. Brouwer perhaps captures a core reality in the biblical account of salvation history.
The story strives for biblical and cultural accuracy. It is entertaining in that it is told with hints of the investigative or detective like approach. However, this approach does not diminish the overall purpose of the author, which I feel is to enlighten us in the dynamics of the spiritual work place of the human mind and heart, that is the soul. Congratulations!